Stamp-affixing machine.



e'. L. meeneem. STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.-

V APPLICATIN FILED EBAY H. 19M. BIENEWEU FEB. I3, l9l. Leeeee,

Patented Sept. 1l, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. L. RElCHHEUW.

STAMP AFFIXIMG MACHINE.

. `APPLlATum FILED mw lu.' 19m.l mwEwED FEB. 13.1917.-

4 Lxq, Mmmm@ u, 191?.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

G. L. REIVCHHELM.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHHJE. y APPLICATIQN msn myn. 1914. ninswio ma. 13.1911.'

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- f man enanas narrar carica.

GEORGE L. REICI-HEL'M, UF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO Til-IE POSTCRAFT COMPANY, inc., or new vonk, n. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STAMPAFFIXING MACHINE.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that GEORGE L. REICH- HELM, a citizen of the United States, resid` ing at New Haven, in the county of New Hav'en and State of Connecticut, have 'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Afixing Machines, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to stamp aifixing machines and my object is to provide a machine of this character which is small, compact, and light in weight and which can be very conveniently operated by hand.

My invention comprises a rotatable drum capable of carrying a roll of stamps, gummed labels, or the like, in ribbon form. Mechanism is provided, operated by a handle, which in one stroke feeds the ribbon, moistens the stamp. and axes said Stamp to an e'iivelop or the like.

My invention comprises mechanism for preventing unauthorized removal of the stamps from the machine, said mechanism also assisting to make the feeding of they stamps sure and accurate.

I have provided a casing having a flat bottom for engaging the envelop in advance of the aflixing device, said casing being adapted to recede during the operation of the machine to allow the aiiixing member to perform its function. Said atlixing member preferably integral with the rotatable drum and is moved into afiixing position by the Same hand mechanism that operates the entire machine. I have provided a single centrally disposed spring for restoring the parts to their normal positions. Other ob-r jects and advantages of my improved machine will be rendered apparent in the following specification when taken 1n connection with the accompanying drawings and the novel elements and combinations of parts will be more particularly set forth in the claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine vvith the parts in the1r normal unoperated condition.

Fig. 1EL is a sectlonal detail on a large scale.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism with the handle pressed down and the parts in the position in which the stamp 1s Speoiilcation o Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 2191*?. Renewed February 13, 1917. serial no. 148,413.

pressed upon the envelop and is about to be severed from the ribbon.

Fig. 2? is a detail on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 3, 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 41 is a front elevation of the body of the machine casing with the rotating drum and other parte removed.

Fig. `5 is a sectional plan view of the same taken along the line 5, 5 of Fig. 1.v

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail taken along the line 6, 6 of Fig. L1.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the casing with portions broken away.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the moistening device.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the feeding pin and lever.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the body portion of the moisteuing device with portions broken away.

Fig. 11 is a detail showing the spring connections between the feeding pin lever and the moistening device.

Fig. 12 is a detail of a small lever which causes the positive engagement of the retaining pin with the ribbon.

Fig. 13 is a perspective View of a portion of the rotating drum.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a detail of the hinge by which the retaining pin is attached to the drum.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the retaining pin and arm.

Fig. 15a is a perspective detail of one end of said arm.

Fig. 15b is a perspective detail of the other end thereof.

Fig. 16 is a perspective View of a cam lever.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a spring controlling said lever.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the folding lever.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the severing knife and lever.

Fig. 2O is a perspective view of a lock lever.

My invention comprises a rotatable drum 25 which is adapted to receive and carry withinl it a series of stamps in ribbon form as indicated by dotted lines at 26 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. A sharp pointed feeding pin 27 is rotatin .inI one direction and cause the feeding o said ribbon to a position exterior to said'drum. Ihave also provided what I term a retaining pin 29, which is sharp pointed and carried by a lever or arm 30 pivotallv attached to the drum as will be described later. This retaining pin prevents unauthorized removal of the stamps from the machine, and assists in the accurate feeding` thereof.

he ribbon of stamps is fed at each operation from the interior of the drum to the exterior thereof through an opening in the circumferential wall of the drum, said opening comprising a narrow channel between a wall 44 and a wall 46 having a substantially parallel relation. Adjacent the outer terminal of this opening is a folding lever 31 which is adapted to bend the end stamp of the ribbon to a position making an angle with said ribbon. l

I preferably form the roll of ribbon with the gummed surface lying on the inside in order that when the end stamp is bent at an angle as shown in Fig. 1, the said gummed surface will have a position convenient to the moistening device 32. The rotation of the drum is adapted to cause the said gummed surface topass the moistening device and 'to rub upon the same and become moistened.

I provide a at member 33 integral with the outer circumferential wall of the drum which is adapted to press the stamp upon the envelop when it has reached its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 2. All of the parts above described are actuated by a handle 35 and a mechanism which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The handle 35 is fixed to a slide 36 which is provided within a vertical guideway in the casing, said slide carrying a pin 37, which is slidably fitted to a substantially radial slot 38 in the web or radial wall of the drum. The downward movement of the pin 37 is adapted to impart the desired rotary movements to the drum.

A helical spring 39 is concentrically mounted upon the hub of the drum, one end 40 of said spring being bent at an angle and inserted in a slot 41 in the radial wall of the drum. The opposite end of said spring is bent at an angle diametrically across the end thereof and inserted in a slot 43u in the end of the stub shaft 43, as shown at 42.

The inner circumferential wall 44 of the opening leading out of the drum is provided with a slot 51 to provide clearance for the sharp end of the feeding pin 27 when it has penetrated the ribbon. The outer circumferential wall 46 is provided with a circular slot 46 to permit the movement of the feeding pin along the circumference of the drum until it engages the ribbon. Said slot 46 is made wider at 46b to permit the operation of the retaining pin arm 30 which lies snugly against the ribbon at this point. The small rectangularv aperture 46 in the wall 44 provides clearance for the sharp end of the retaining pin.

The feeding pin arm 28 is provided with an angularly disposed hinge portion 47 which is rotatably fitted at 48 to a pin 48 fixed in the casing. The said feeding pin arm 28 is also provided with a laterally eX- tending lug 49 which is adapted to slide lupon the walls 44 and 46 of the drum during the rotation thereof in one direction and upon the exterior surface of the cam lever 58 and also upon the exterior surface of the hinge member 61 during the rotation of the said drum in the other direction. The lug 49 will therefore be seen to control the movement of the feeding pin with relation to the ribbon of stamps.l The end of the arm 28 is angularly disposed to a slight extent in order to give free action upon the cam lever and other parts described.

The outer circumferential wall 46 has a shoulder at 50, over the end of which the lug 49 may drop radially inward topermit tle feeding pin to engagethe ribbon-at this point. The parts are so proportioned that the feeding pin will remain in engagement with the ribbon during a part of its rotation corresponding to'ne stamp thereof.

The retaining pin arm 30 is notched at 55 to permit the narrow part 53 of the cam 58 to cross said lever and thereby allow the extremity 56 to lie in contact with the inner circumferential wall 44 of the drum. The wider extremity 52 of the arm 30 is adapted to lie upon said circumferential wall 44 also at a point beyond the extremity of the cam 58. The ends of both said arms are therefore normally in contact with said wall '44.

Both the cam 58 and the arm 30 have their extremities in contact with the wall 44 beyond the shoulder 50 and ywill be lifted by the lug 49 of the lever 28 at the end of the upward rotation of the drum. The upper inner edge of the terminal portion 52 is beveled as shown at 52 to insure the passage of the lug 49 beneath the end of said lever. Ihe narrow portion 53 of the lever 58 is also inclined to allow said lug 49 to pass beneath 1t. The lug49 is adapted to pass beyond the extremity 54 of the lever 58, but not beyond the extremity 52 of the arm 30 at the end of the upward movement. At the end of said upward movement the lug 49 will have a position beneath the end 52 of the arm 30. (SeeFig. la.)

The pin 29 projects beyond the outer 'surface o the arm 30 and enters a slot 30b in a lug 30,fixed to the drum. By this means the arm is more accurately conned to its iseeaeea proper position onV the d than une hinge structure at its upper end can conne it.

The arm 30 is provided with an inwardly curved portion 30a which is adapted to receive the pressure of the lug 49 when .the drum is moving upwardly just at the time itis passing over the shoulder 50 of the wall 46. The arm 30 will thereby be lifted and the .retaining pin 29 will be disengaged fromthe ribbon, While at the same instant the feeding pin 27 is dropping into engagement with said ribbon.

The lower extremity 54 of the cam lever 58 is beveled to cause it to pass below the lug 49 and thereby to raise the arm 28 and pin 27 from engagement with the ribbon during the downward stroke. During said downward stroke the lug 49 will have a position exterior to the cam lever 58 and will ride along said cam and along the exterior surface of the hinge member 61 until the end of the downward stroke.

The cam lever 58v is provided with an ascending slope 58EL and a -descending slope 59 for the purpose of controlling the movement of the moistener. The ascending slope 58a operrtes through the lever 28 to move i the inoistener 32 against the gummed surface of the stamp by mechanism which will be described hereinafter. The descending slope 59 has such a form and position with relation to the angular position of the arni 28 that said arm maintains contact of the moistener with the stamp during the movement of `.said slope beneath it.

The upper end 60 of the cam lever 58 has a position adjacent the hinge 62 and is adapted to carry the lug 49 over said hinge and upon the outer surface of the body of said hinge member 61 until said lug 49 reaches the upper end 62EL thereof. The hinge member supports the arm 30 by means of a pin inserted through the lugs 63 of said lever, and through the loop of said hinge. A shoulder portion 6 4 of said lever lies in substantial alimment with a corresponding shoulder 62h of the hinge member whereby the lug 49 is carried smoothly along to its' final position.

A spring 65 secured to the drum is provided with a lateral wing 66, which bears upon thecam lever 58 and is adapted to maintain it in contact at its lower end with the wall 44. The cam lever is pivotally attached by means of a pin 67 in the aperture 58b to the drum. The small bent strip 69 secured to the drum provides a support for the pin above described. The radial slot 38 has an outer portion 7() disposed at an angle thereto into which the pin 37 slides in the lowermost portion of its stroke, thereby retaining the drum in an immovable position during said lowermost part of the stroke. Thev part 7 0 of the slot then has a vertical position. The operations of pressing the stamp upon the envelop and severing the same-from the ribbon are edected during said lowerinost part of the stroke.

' The severing knife 34 is carried by a movable arm 71 which is pivotally attached at 71a to the rear. face of the drum and is carried by the saine. The said arm 71 is provided with an angular end 72 which normally lies in the path of the pin 37 and has a position diagonally disposed across the outer portion of the slot as is shown in Figs. l and 2. An aperture 74 near the end of the arm receives the inner end of the spring 39, the tension of said spring being such as to normally hold the arm 71 in the position shown in Figs. l and 2. When in this position the severing knife 34 lies in contact with the edge of the flat portion 33 of the drum and its lower face lies in the same plane therewith. The downwardly eX- tending lug 73 provides for the attachment of said knife to the arm 71.

The folding lever 31 is pivotally attached at 75 to the `drum and is provided with a pin 76 in one of its arms which is adapted to slide in a slot 79 in the frame. The -slot 79 controls tile movement of said lever during a portion of the rotary movement of the drum, and during another portion of said rotary movement, the lever is actuated by a pin 78 which is engaged by the notch 77 iu said. lever and given an angular movement with relation to the drum. This angular movement is such as to cause the arm 31 to move outwardly away from the drum and to fold the end stamp of the ribbon to an angular position about the edge of the severing knife 34. This angular position is clearly illustrated in Fig. .1. In this position of .the stamp the severing knife will effectively engage the ribbon and carry it downwardly to the aiiixing position.

A small lever 81 is pivotally attached to the drum at 83 and is provided with a laterally projecting lug 82 which'is adapted to be engaged by the upper arm of the folding llever at 7 6a and-pushed outwardly. rllhe said arm of the folding lever is pushed outwardly during the downward rotation of the. drum by an outwardly curved portion in the slot 79 which engages the pin 76. The small lever 81 is provided at the end of its other arm 84 with an oppositely disposed lug 85 which is ada ted to bear upon the retaining pin arin 30. The outwardly curved portion 80 of the slot is therefore adapted to cause the retaining pin to be forced into the ribbon' of stamps during the downward stroke of the mechanism described. The retaining pin will then prevent the unauthorized'withdrawal of the stamps. It will also prevent too great feed of the ribbon due tol inertia.

rlhe drum is provided with an outwardly extending flange 86 in which the pivot pin 83 is conveniently mounted. I have proof the casing in the path of the edge of the end stamp of the ribbon for insurin the backward folding thereof during the ownward movement.

The molstener 1s carrled by an arm 88 Vwhich is pivotally mounted upon a pin 48a secured to the casing. This arm 88 carries at its lower extremity the water receptacle 89'in which the moistener 32 is immersed at its inner end. The moistener 32 is preferably made of a brous material or wicklng which absorbs moisture and imparts 1t to the stamp. j

Within ,the casing 89 I secure two small tubes 90 and 91 near the upper wall of said casing, said tubes opening outwardly at the front thereof and terminating near the rear wall of said receptacle. These tubes permlt filling of the receptacle with water and are so arranged that said water cannot accidentally spillout of the receptacle.

At the upper end of the arm 88 I provide two lugs 92 and 93 between which the feed pin arm 28 has a limited angular movement. A helical spring 94 is placed around the pin 48, one end thereof being fixed inthe slotted end of said pin at 96, and retained therein by a nut 97. The opposite end of said spring is bent to a position which causes it to bear upon the arm 28, as shown at 95, and to push.. said arm toward the drum. The lug 92 is given such a position with relation to the arm 28 that the said arm when pushed. outwardly by the cam 58 will engage "said lugand cause the arm 88 to swing and hence the moistener 32 to be pressed against the stamp when it is moving downwardly.

At the extremity of the downward stroke ofthe parts the inclined lug 98 carried by the slide 36 actuated by the handle 35 is adapted to strike the lug 49 of the arm 28 and force it outwardly and downwardly to a pos1t1on below the shoulder 62a ofuthe hlnge member 61. This downward movement of said lever 28' will cause it to engage the lug 93 and to move the moistener 32 away from the drum. rIhe lug 49 is then 1n position to lie beneath the hinge member 61 during) the upward rotation of the drum;V to sllde eneath the arm 30; and to drop over the shoulder-50 and cause the feeding pin to engage the ribbon of stamps during said downward movement. i

A locklng lever 99 is pivotally mounted upon the stub shaft 43 and is provided with a laterally projecting pin 100, which is adapted to oscillate in a slot 105 in the rear wall of the casing. This pin 100 is also adapted to receive pressure lfrom the incllned edge 101 of the slide 36 and to be swung to-the left as viewed in Fig. 4. In the normal position of the parts when the stamp vending machine is unoperated, the lever 99 has Such a position that the laterally projecting pin 102 .thereon liesimmediately above a raised portion V103 of the base of the machine. When in this position the said base cannot move upwardly with relation to the frame of the machine and said base portion thereby prevents accidental contact of the drum with the table or other exterior objects. vThe said base portion is slidably mounted upon the rear portion of the frame as will be described later.

The base. portion is provided with an inwardly projecting flange.106 which overlies the pin 102 and prevents the downward movement of saidv 'base portion and of the upper part of the casing which is integral therewith. i In this flange 106 a narrow notch 104 is provided which will pass over the pin 102 and allow said downward movement of the casing when said pin 102 is pushed to a position in line with it. This may be done by the user of the machineby means of the pin 100 which projects through the slot 105. l

.I have provided means at the upperportion of the casing for holding the side walls and base portion in engagement with the rear or main body of the frame. This means consists of lugs 107 which are inwardly bent at the rear edges of the walls of the upper part of the casing and adapted to lie behind the shoulders 108 of the main frame. Below these shoulders I provide notches `109 through which the lugs 107 may be removed when the front portion of the pasing is l moved downwardly. Such movement can be effected whenthe pin 102 has been pushed into alinement with the notchl 104.

Overlying the slide 36'at the rear of the machine I provide av thin plate 116 secured to the main frame of the machine. I preferably consider the thickr plate 112 as the main frame of the machine and in the present description it'is desirable that` it be so considered. The lugs 107 have aposition between the overlying plate 116 and the frame 112, said overlying plate 116 being provided with depressions 116a to receive them.

T he handle 35 is secured to the forwardly projecting lug 118 of vthe plate 36, being r1g1dly secured thereto at 117. The forward oend 98 ef said .lug has been previously denaeaeaa adapted to retainlally parts mounted thereon in their proper positions. lt is also adapted to retain-the end 42 of the spring 39 in its proper position within the slot 43a.

The said end 42 of the springalso enters notches 114a in the hub of the lever 99Jand -by its engagement with said hub causes the said lever 99 to assume such a position thatI the pin 102 will lie above the raised part 103 in the base, except when the machine is being operated. ln order to permit this action of the spring upon the lever 99, l provide a clearance space in the base ot the slot 43a, as shown at 43.

rlhe spring 39 will therefore be seen to have a plurality of functions as follows:

. (1) To rotate the lever 99 'to its normal positionabove described; (2) to rotate the drum 39 to its .normal position by Contact with the end of the slot 41; (3) to move the severing. lrnigte arm 71 to its normal position with relation to the drum, as shownin Fig. 1; (4) to restore the handle to the upper position, which 4it does through the action of the drum; and (5) to operate` other parts of the mechanism through the action of the drum as above described. v y

The base plate of the casing is cut away at 119 to provide an aperture to permit the Vdrum andthe stamp to project slightly when aflixing the stamp to theenvelop. ln the.

normal position of the mechanism said drum lies within the base plate.

ln the use and operation of my improved ailxing machine the operator actuates the handle 35 in a downward direction after rst havingfplaced the base of the machine upon the envelop in proper relation thereto.

The downward movement of thel handleV causes the slide 36 by means of the pin 37 working inthe slot 3.8 to rotate the drum in a left hand direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, until the liat portion 33 of the drum has a position close to the envelop. 0n the way downward the severing knife 34 en gages the ribbon inthe angle formed between the folded stamp at the end andthe body of the ribbon and causes it to move downward until said stamp has a position between the dat portion 33 and the envelop.

@n the way downward the moistener 32 -is vpushed against `the gummed surfaceof the stamp by the cam 58 operating through the lever 218 and lug 92 of the `moistener arm 88.' lBuring this downward movement the o'set portion 8O of the cam slot 9 aotuates the lever 31 slightly in a `direction which causes the small lever 8l to force'the retaining pin 29 into'the paper. Said pin `is retainedin engagement with 'the'. paper by the'springti.` f i f e furingthe initial part `oli thesaid downward movement the 'arml 23 is lifted out of contact with the drum by thel lower extremity 54 of the cana 58 and is held out of con- Vthe stamp on the envelop,

lil

tact by said cam and 'by the hinge member 61 until the end of the downward movement.

During said downward movement the folder 31 is caused to move toward the drum by the pin 78 and cam slot 79 until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 2. lt is then ready 'to fold another stamp in the ribbon back to an angular position when the upward stroke takes place.

lll/hen the drum has reached the position in the downward stroke shown in Fig. 2, in which the flat portion 33 begins 'to press the pin 37 has reached the inclined edge 72 of the severing lever, and a short additional movement downwardly causes the said pin to move said lever sui'iciently to cause the lmil-e 34 to sever the stamp from the ribbon. During this additional movement the pin 37 is travcling in the angularly disposed portionTG of the slot in the drum, at which time the said portion of the slot has ay vertical position.; During this time the pintherefore retains the drum rigidly in a position which causes the stamp to be firmly pressed upon the paper; During this short additional movement the'inclined tace of the lug 98 comes into contactwith the extremity of the lug 49 of the arm 28 and forces it 0H the hinge member 61 and into Contact with the drum. After the stamp has been severed vand hence aixedto the envelop, the operator discontinues pressure upon the handle 35 and the tension of the spring 39'lirst causesthe severing lever 71 to return to its normal position with relation to the drum. The end of the spring at 40 then bears upon the drum atthe end of the slot 41 and causes a rotation thereof in a right hand direction. i

During the upward movement of 'the parts the feeding pin27 comes into contact with 'the paper at the time when the shoulder 50 of the drum passes from under the lug 49.

Simultaneously therewith the said lug 49 .78 when it is engaged by the notch 77 in said folding lever. `During the upward movement the' moistener 32 is pushed away fliromthe ydrum by the spring 94 and arm 23 which engage'sthe lug 93 on the moistener arm88.j v

During said upward movement the spring 39 through the pressure of its end 42 upon l the hub of the lock arm 99 causes the pin` 102 of said arm to move to a position above the raised portion 103 of the base, thereby causing said base to be locked in a position below the periphery of the drum, and protecting it.

To remove the main portion of the casing from the frame 112 for the purpose of reloading, it is necessary only to push the pin 100 along the slot 105 until the pin 102 of the arm 99 is brought into alinement with the opening 104 when said casing can be moved downwardly.y The downward move-` ment should then'be suilicient to cause the lugs 107 to come to a position opposite the cisely the details of construction, I do no t .wish to be understoodoas limiting myself thereto, as'I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest orrender expedient Withoutdeparting from the spirit of my` invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the ,class described, a r0- tatable drum adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form `and means to impart a bodily movement to said drum to press a stamp of said series upon an envelop or the like.

2; In a portable stamp aiiixing machine, a rotatable drum adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form, means to impart' a bodily movement to said drum to press a stamp of said series upon an envelop or the like, and means for feeding said stamps successively to a position forl receiving` the pressure of said drum. 4

3. In a stamp aiixing machine, a rotatable drum adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form, means for imparting a ra dial movement to said drum to press austampv -of said series upon an envelopV or the like, means for feeding-said stamps successively to a position for receiving theA pressure of said drum. and means for moistening a stamp of said ribbon before pressing it upon`A said envelop.

4. In a device of the class described, a rotatable drum adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form, means to oscillate and impart a bodily movement to said drum to press a stamp of said series upon an envelop or the like, means for feeding said stamps successively to a position for receiving -the pressure of said drum, means for moistening a stamp of said ribbon before pressing it upon said envelop, and means for severing a stamp from said series.

5. In a device of the class described, a rotatable drum adapted to contain va series of stamps in ribbon form and having an opening permitting the passage of said' ribbon to the exterior thereof, means for imparting a feeding movement to said series, means for moistening a stamp in said series, and means p bon to the exterior thereof, means for im.

parting a feeding movement to said series, means for moistening a stamp' in said series, means for pressing said stamp upon an envelop or the like, and means carried by said rotatable member and having a movement in /the direction of the periphery of said drum for severing said stamp from said ribbon.

' 7 In a device of the class described, a rotatable member adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form, a casing in which said member is rotatably mounted, and means for imparting rotation to said member Yand moving said member radially to -press a stamp upon an envelop or the like.

8. Ina device of the class described, a

rotatable member adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form, a casing in which said member is rotatably mounted, means for imparting rotation to said member and causing said member to press a stamp upon an envelop or the like, said casing having a bodily movement with relation to said rotatable member and adapted to recede from Said envelop whensaidfmember is pressing upon said envelop.

9. In a devlce of the class described, a

rotatable member adapted to contain a series of stampsin ribbon form, a casingin which said member is rotatably mounted, 'means for imparting rotation to said member and causing said member to press a stamp upon an envelopor'the like, said casing having a bodily movement with relation to said rotatable member and adapted to recede from 4said envelop when said member is pressing upon said envelop, and `means for restoring said 'casing to its normal position when the pressure is removed.

10. In a device of the class described, a

rotatable member adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form, a casing in which said member is rotatably mounted, means for imparting rotation tosaid member and causing said member to press af'stamp upon an-envelop or the like, said casing having a bodily movement with relation tosaid rotatable memberand adapted to recede from said envelop when said member is pressing upon said envelop, and means for restoring said casing to its normal position when the neaaeae pressure is removed, said casing being separable from said rotatable member upon the extension of said bodily movement.

l1. ln a device of the class described, a rotatable member adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form, a casing in' Which said member is rotatably mounted means for imparting rotation to saidmember and causing said member to press a stampupon an envelop or the like, said casing having a bodily movement With relation to said rotatable member and adapted to recede from Said envelop When said member is pressing upon said envelop, means for restoring said casing to its normal position when the pressure is removed, said casing being separable from said rotatable memberupon the eX- tension of said bodily movement, and means for preventing the extension of said bodily movement, said means being under the control of the operator.

12. ln a device of the class described, a rotatable member adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form, and having a channel leading from the interior to the eX- terior thereof, a feeding element mounted separately from said member and adapted to engage said ribbon and hold it While said member is rotating in ne direction, a re taining element carried by said rotatable member and adapted to engage said ribbon during the movement of said member in the opposite direction, and mechanism for edecting the aixing of a stamp to an envelop f or the like.

13. ln a device of the class described, a rotatable member adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form, and having a channel leading from the interior to the eX- terior thereof, a feeding element ymounted separately from said member and adapted to engage said ribbon and liold it vvhile said member is rotatingin one direction, a retaining element carried by said rotatable member and adapted to engage said ribbon during the movement of said member in the opposite direction, means for holding said feeding element ont of engagement with said ribbon during the lmovement in said opposite direction, and mechanism for effecting the aiiixing of a stamp to an'envelop or the like.

14. ln a device ot the class described, ai,

feeding element out ot engagement with saidV ribbon during the movement in said opposite direction, said feeding element being adapted to disengage said retaining element rotatable memberv adapted to contain a se' ries of stamps in ribbon form, means for imparting a bodily movement to said member to press a stamp of said ribbon upon an envelop or the like, a moistening elem-ent adjacent said member, and means for moving said moistening element into contact With said stamp. y

16'. ln a device ci the class described, a rotatable member adapted to contain a se ries of stamps in ribbon form and adapted to press a stamp of said ribbon upon an envelop orthe "like, a moistening element ad- Vjacent said member, means for moving said moistening element into contact With said stamp, and means for folding said stamp at an angle to said ribbon with its gummed face in a position adapted to make contact With said moiste'ning element.

17. ln -a device of the class described, a rotatable member adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form and adapted to press a stamp of said ribbon upon an envelop or the like, a moistening element adjacent said member, means for moving said .moistening element Ainto contact with said stamp, means for folding said stamp at an angle to said ribbon With its gummed face in a position adapted to make contact With said moistening element, and means for engaging said ribbon at the angle of the fold and moving said stamp into contact with said envelop. y

18. lin a device of the class described, a

rotatable member adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form, a feeding element adapted to engage said ribbon and prevent its movement with said member in one direction, al retaining element adapted to engage said ribbon during the movement in the opposite direction, means adapted to force said retaining element into engagement With said ribbon during the movement in said second named direction,- andvmechanism for eiecting the athxing of a stamp` to an envelop or the like. l

i9. ln a device of the class described, a

. rotatable member adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon `form, means for folding a stamp at an angle to said ribbon,

Y and means for engaging said ribbon at the angle of tbe fold and moving'v said stamp into contact with an envelop or the like.

20. ln a device of the class described, a rotatable memberradapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form, means for folding a stamp at an angle to said ribbon, and means for engaging said ribbon at the angle l of the fold and moving said stamp into contact with anenvelop or the like, said last named means being adapted to sever said stamp from said ribbon.

`- 21. In a device ofthe class described, a rotatable drum adapted to contain a series of stamps in ribbon form, means for feeding said ribbon to the exterior of said drum, means for severing a stamp from said ribbon, and means for'imparting a bodily movement to said drum to press a stamp of said series upon an envelop or the like.

22. In a device of thevclass described, a rotatable drum adapted to contain a serles of stamps in ribbon form, a casing for said drum, means forI feeding a stamp of said ribbon to the exterior of s'aid casing, means for severing Va stamp. from said ribbon, ,and

means for imparting a bodily movement to said drum.

23. In a device of the class described, a rotatable drum adaptedto contain a series of stamps in ribbon form, a casing for said drum, ineans for feeding a stamp of said ribbon to the exterior of said casing, and means' for severing a stamp from said ribbon, said casing having a reciprocating movement with relation to said drum to press a stamp against an envelop or the like and an aperture permitting egress of said ribbon.`

24. In a device of the rotatable drum adapted to contain a series to impart rotation t0 said drum, means for severing stamps from said ribbon, anda casing member slidably mounted u on said frame member toefect the aiixing of a stamp to an envelop or the like and having an opening permitting a ortion of said drum to protrude beyond the Walls of said casingv when said casing member is moved from its normal position.

26. In a device of the class described,`a

A rotary member adapted to carry a series. of

class described, a

stamps in ribbon form, means cooperating with said rotary member to successively un- Wind the stamps of said ribbon, means car I l ried by said member for severing a stamp member adapted to carry a series of stamps in ribbon form, means carried by said member for severing a stamp from said ribbon, means for pressing the severed stamp upon an envelop or the like, and means carried by said member for folding a stamp to an angular position With relation to said ribbon before severing.

28. In a device of the class described, a member a'dapted to carry a series of stamps in ribbon form and deliver them singly, and a casing for said member having a portion thereof movable with relation to said meniber permitting a part of said member to protrude beyond the vWalls of said casing when said portion is moved from its normal position to press a stamp upon an envelop or the like. A

29. In a device of the class described, a member 'adapted to carry a series of stamps in ribbon form and deliver them singly, a casing for said member having a portion thereof movable with relation to said member permitting a part of said member to pro-A trude beyond the walls of said casing when said portion is moved from its normal position to aiiix a stamp to an envelop or the like, and -means for retaining said portion in its normal position except when said member is operated.

30. In adevicel of the class described, a

member adapted to carry a series of stamps in ribbon form and deliver them singly, a casing for said member having a portion thereof movable with relation to said member permitting a part of said member to rotrude beyond the Walls of said casing W en' said portion is inoved from its normal position to aiix a stamp to an envelop or the like, and means for retaining said portion in its normal position except when said member is operated, said means being further manually operable to.permit entire separation of said portion from the remainder of said casing.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

GEORGE L. REICHHELM. Witnesses:

MYRA A. MERRIAM, J. FREDERICK BAKER. 

